Volume 2, Issue 4
August 2007

In this issue:

A shopping list for writers going back to school
Did you know? Got/Gotten
Ask TSW!
Spotlight on...Ann Marie "JADE" Bryan

Let us take care of your words.

A SHOPPING LIST FOR WRITERS GOING BACK TO SCHOOL
It's August and that means it's time to get ready for school. You'll do a lot of writing for your classes (even if you're not a student, this is still for you!). The below recommended books on writing may make it easier for you to complete your assignments.

1. The Elements of Style by William Strunk and E.B. White. This classic gives you a quick list of grammar do's and don'ts in a no-nonsense style.

2. On Writing Well by William Zinsser. This book is so well written that it feels like a novel. It also lives up to its title: the author tells how to write "well," "good," or "great."

3. A Manual for Writers of Term Papers, Theses and Dissertations by Kate L. Turabian. This book is a must if you write a term paper. With examples of what a footnote should look like or how to place a quote, the book provides information in every category imaginable: newspaper articles, books, magazines, editions and more.

4. SF Writers by John Ruszkiewicz, Maxine Hairston, and Daniel E. Seward. This easy-to-use book comes with tabs for easy access. If you want to read about punctuation and mechanics, look for the matching tab and turn to that chapter. APA documentation? There's a tab for that, too. Designing documents and Web sites? No problem.

There are plenty of books about writing, but these four are must-haves for any student's bookshelf.

DID YOU KNOW? GOT/GOTTEN
Many readers know that British English is very different from American English. Here's something you may not have known. Which of the following examples is the correct version?

He had got some pie.
or
He had gotten some pie.

Answer: In England, "gotten" is not considered 'correct English.' However, in America, this is acceptable. In fact, using "got" and "gotten" here in America means slightly different things. "Got" indicates that you got the pie sometimes in the past ("He got some pie"), while "gotten" states that you got the pie recently.

Source: www.straightdope.com

ASK TSW!

Question: I have a pet peeve; tell me which is right:

People that come to the meeting will be served refreshments.
or
People who come to the meeting will be served refreshments.

When and why should we use "who" and "that"?

- A reader in Jacksonville, Fla.

TSW's Answer: Great question! This is also a pet peeve for many writers. The misuse of "that" for "who" (or vice versa) is one of the most common mistakes; in fact, this mistake is seen everywhere - in writings, on television, and especially in conversations. In your example above, "who" should be used, not "that."
A simple rule to remember is that "who" refers to people, while "that" generally refers to groups and things.

INCORRECT: The woman that owns the store is deaf.
CORRECT: The woman who owns the store is deaf.

INCORRECT: The actor that had the purple hair didn't get the part.
CORRECT: The actor who had the purple hair didn't get the part.

INCORRECT: The car who has the dent is mine.
CORRECT: The car that has the dent is mine.

For a fun look at this topic, check Grammar Girl's article at: grammar.qdnow.com/2006/11/03/the-power-of--who.aspx

Other Web sites:
Guide to Grammar Styles: andromeda.rutgers.edu/~jlynch/Writing/w.html
Grammar Book: www.grammarbook.com/grammar/whoVwhVt.asp

Have a question? Send your question to news@tswriting.com, and we will answer your question in this column. Your name will be kept anonymous.

SPOTLIGHT ON...ANN MARIE "JADE" BRYAN
Each month, TSW profiles one of its clients. This month, we talk with JADE, a filmmaker who's sure to headline Hollywood someday.

An award-winning independent filmmaker, Ann Marie "JADE" Bryan has been in the filmmaking business for more than 14 years. Born in Jamaica before coming to New York City at the age of five, Bryan graduated from the New York School for the Deaf (Fanwood). She then became the first Deaf African-American to graduate from New York University's Tisch School of the Arts and has become deeply involved with filmmaking since then.

Today, Bryan operates JADE Films, an independent film production company that strives to raise consciousness about African Americans and Latinos who are deaf or hard of hearing, and DeafVision Filmworks, a non-profit organization catering to filmmakers of color who develop often-overlooked stories. On her impressive list of films are ON & OFF STAGE: The Bruce Hlibok Story, REACHING ZENITH: A Black Deaf Filmmaker's Journey, and 9/11 FEAR IN SILENCE: The Forgotten Underdogs.

Currently, Bryan is hard at work on wrapping up Somalia, a love story about a Deaf black woman who falls in love with a musician. "Although the film was written, produced and directed in 2001, I'm just now finishing it because there's a product placement theme used in the film that is currently pending a patent," Bryan says. This same product, a device that allows deaf people to feel music on their bodies, was recently featured on ABC's American Inventor. "The experience on that television show was excellent, especially when I got the full support of the judges. It was an exciting opportunity, one that was thrilling for me." Somalia has a planned release date for the fall of 2008.

As a woman who has plenty of goals, Bryan hopes to make a difference through films like Somalia. "I believe that this film will pave the way for many deaf people. I see this film used to expose the relationship between deaf and hearing people, and to correct the common misconception that deaf people do not appreciate music," she says. "I also hope to educate others about Black Deaf culture. I have yet to see a movie about the Black Deaf life experience, along with the interaction between hearing and deaf people."

Bryan strives to work with deaf-owned businesses whenever she can. "I work with T.S. Writing Services because I believe in supporting other deaf people excelling in their fields of expertise. Collaborating with another deaf person who shares similar insights and experience, media-related, helps me make it in this competitive, cutthroat and gate-keeping industry," Bryan explains. "I like to think outside of the box. Always. I believe once you are on top within your field, you should help others get there. The Deaf community needs me, and I need the community. I'm here only because of the community. T.S. Writing Services understands that."

One of Bryan's favorite quotes from William James probably best describes her future: "Most people never run far enough on their first wind to find out if they've got a second. Give your dreams all you've got and you'll be amazed at the energy that comes out of you."

Bryan's website is at www.jadefilms.com. More information about her 9/11 film is also at www.911fearinsilence.com.

ABOUT TSW

T.S. Writing Services, LLC, is a Deaf-owned company that provides writing, editing, design, and translation services for American Sign Language and English users. For more information, visit www.tswriting.com.